Monthly Archives: January 2016

McALESTER, Okla. – Most cowboys dream of gold buckles, while singers hope for Grammys and actors pray for Oscars. Johnny Dudley is not an ordinary athlete or entertainer. “All the buckles and glory and big rodeos are things that most rodeo clowns want, but I just want people to say I’m a good guy,” said  Continue Reading »

McALESTER, Okla. – There are many attractive things about this community. “We’re the largest city in southeast Oklahoma with 18,000 people,” said Jeff Warmuth, the president and CEO of the McAlester Area Chamber of Commerce. “We feel like we’ve got a town of 40,000, because people come in from other communities to shop and to  Continue Reading »

He may have retired from bull riding two years ago, but Cord McCoy never retired from being a cowboy. McCoy, a six-time PBR World Finals qualifier who also earned a bull riding qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2005, has gained fame through his three stints on the CBS-TV reality series, “The Amazing  Continue Reading »

GUTHIRE, Okla. – Dakota Kirchenschlager was excited to compete at the CINCH Timed Event Championship. After re-aggravating a shoulder injury recently, the two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier will miss this year’s Timed Event, set for March 4-6 at the Lazy E Arena. He will be replaced by another heeler, Jim Ross Cooper, a two-time TEC  Continue Reading »

McALESTER, Okla. – For the first time since 2009, professional rodeo is returning to McAlester. Local officials have teamed with Hi Lo ProRodeo to produce and promote the Choctaw Casino’s McAlester ProRodeo Presented by Sam Wampler’s Freedom Ford, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 12-13, at the Southeast Expo Center. “McAlester is a rodeo town,  Continue Reading »

Attitude says as much about a cowboy as any skill he might possess. The rodeo trail is long and winding and features many obstacles and road blocks along the way. If allowed, one bad run can turn into another. Having a positive approach is vital in the game, and that’s why the top cowboys maintain  Continue Reading »

TOP ALL-AROUND HANDS TO BATTLE FOR CINCH TIMED EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE GUTHRIE, Okla. – There is one main reason the top 20 cowboys in the game look forward to the CINCH Timed Event Championship, set for March 6-8 at the Lazy E Arena. “I think it’s the best event going,” said JoJo LeMond, a TEC  Continue Reading »

WEST MONROE, La. – For every great veteran athlete, there is always a young gun with potential and promise ready to be the next big thing. There are some outstanding veterans in the mix for Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, with outstanding athletes in Dirty Jacket, Big Tex, Real Deal and River Boat Annie. All have  Continue Reading »

WEST MONROE, La. – For the last four years, West Monroe has been a major focal point of reality television in various capacities. “Duck Dynasty” was the precursor for other northern Louisiana reality-based programs like “Bayou Billionaire” and the “My Big Redneck Family” franchise. But there’s much more to Ouachita Parish than duck calls, camouflage  Continue Reading »

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the January 2016 issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. It is republished on my website with the WPRA’s approval.   Callie duPerier had the simplest of game plans during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Leave all three barrels up in all 10 go-rounds.  Continue Reading »

In early May 2008, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket was just 4 years old. He had shown great promise on the company ranch near Athens, Texas, and he had a great bloodline. But most knew very little about horse when the bay gelding colt arrived in the Oklahoma Panhandle for the Guymon Pioneer Days  Continue Reading »